BANGKOK – Thai police have tightened security on former PetroSaudi International executive Xavier Andre Justo to prevent any attempt to dissuade him from cooperating with Thai authorities.

“He is an important suspect. So I have instructed them to tighten security on the detainee,” Royal Thai Police spokesman Pol Lft Gen Prawuth Thavornsiri said when denying rumors of a reported attempt to poison Justo.

“No poisoning for sure, but there might be attempts to persuade the suspect not to say much more,” he said.

He said there was no attempt to persuade Justo not to talk so far, but Thai authorities were not taking any chances.

Pol Lft Gen Prawuth Thavornsiri said the authorities have been instructed to have personnel present whenever Justo had a visitor.

Only certain people are allowed to visit him, he added.

Pol Lft Gen Prawuth Thavornsiri also said he was not aware of any official request from the Malaysian police to interview Justo as of Thursday.